Rules and Regulations. Proposed rule; reopening of comment period

Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
Action: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period
Citation: 76 FR (No. 241) · FR Doc. 2011-32240 · RIN 0579-AD09 · Docket No. APHIS-2009-0070 · 7 CFR 9, 331

Summary

We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend and republish the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products, reorganize the list of select agents and toxins based on the relative potential of each select agent or toxin to be misused to adversely affect human, plant, or animal health, and amend the regulations in order to add definitions and clarify language concerning security, training, biosafety, biocontainment, and incident response. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

Dates

The comment period for the proposed rule published October 3, 2011 (76 FR 61228), is reopened. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before January 17, 2012.

Supplementary Information

On October 3, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 61228-61244, Docket No. APHIS-2009-0070) a proposal to amend and republish the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products, reorganize the list of select agents and toxins based on the relative potential of each select agent or toxin to be misused to adversely affect human, plant, or animal health, and amend the regulations in order to add definitions and clarify language concerning security, training, biosafety, biocontainment, and incident response. Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or before December 2, 2011. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. APHIS-2009-0070 for an additional 30 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. We will also consider all comments we receive between December 3, 2011, and the date of this document. Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of December 2011. Kevin Shea, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2011-32240 Filed 12-14-11; 8:45 am]